Arabs in Costco

This is an interesting chain e-mail and urban legend, as it is
building on the 'Halloween Mall Warning' that has been circulating for a
number of weeks in October 2001. It is understandable that people want to be
careful, especially where children are concerned.

Subject: ARABICS BOUGHT FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS
WORTH OF CANDY

Yesterday, 2 arabics people went into the costco
in Wayne, NJ and bought five thousand $ worth of candy. So costco called the
cops and told them. The FBI cought one of the arabics and the other one got
away with the candy. The arabic that got cought was illegaly in the country
and the FBI thingks the candy is away to spread the Anthrax virus. send this
to 15 people to help protect the country and our kids who will be trick or
treating on October 31

Here is a statement from the FBI on this:

A man who used cash to buy large amounts of
candy from Costco stores in Hackensack and Wayne last week is not suspected
of any terrorist activity, the FBI said.

"We do not have any evidence that suggests that the purchases of these
items was not for legitimate purposes," said Sandra Carroll, an FBI
spokesperson in Newark.

The candy, meanwhile, has been found, Carroll
said.

Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa said since the
purchase was legitimate, the man was allowed to keep the candy. It wasn't
known if he had sold it to retailers.

I ask myself, why weren't any non-arab looking people not reported for
buying large quantities of candy from Costco?

Ask yourself this: If you were a [arab-looking] terrorist, working in a foreign
country and planning a major attack [even on children], would you go to a
major store like Costco and buy the candy yourself?

Of course not! Especially when everyone in the US is currently extremely
suspicious of any foreign-looking person. Now that would be stupid!

If you receive a message about this then please ignore it and don't pass it on as this only serves to propagate
this